Opposing the Kent Science Park proposals

We are totally opposed to the plans from Quinn Estates to build 11,250 houses, 120,000 sqm of commercial space, a new motorway junction and Sittingbourne Southern Relief Road connecting the M2 to the A2 in Bapchild. We expect planning application to be submitted in summer 2018 so sign up so we can alert you what you can do next to help.

How can you help?

There are going to be lots of ways in which you may help us, but first of all, we need you to sign-up below so that we may contact you when any important updates occur or when you need to take some action

Why should you be concerned?

Even though the Southern Relief Road was firmly rejected by an independent government inspector, a number of councillors, many from Faversham have railroaded this into council policy.

Whilst there is some pretence around the notion that the council remains impartial and open to making its mind up, a number of councillors have freely admitted that the plans for the Southern Relief Road will require thousands of houses. Some have actually lobbied for it including the three Kent County Councillors who represent Sittingbourne.

If this were to go ahead Sittingbourne would be building 76.5% of the borough's housing whilst Faversham would only contribute 6.8% and yet the current population split is approx. 46% and 24% which demonstrates clearly why these proposals are driven by Faversham councillors.

The key proposals and why we object

Although not included in the current local plan up to 2031, the 11,250 houses have been proposed as well as a new link road from the A2 in Bapchild to the M2 near the Kent Science Park.

This housing is not required to support population growth or inward immigration from other parts of Kent or the UK.
We have just spent over 7 years agreeing our housing figures during which time the Kent Science Park remained silent on the matter.

The borough council however is also keen on using this unprecedented scale of development to meet housing targets that have not yet been forced on us and specifically with the intension of funding a Southern Relief Road.

No longer a part of Swale Borough Councils Local Plan after being rejected by a government inspector, and with the evidence for the road appearing to fall short on a number of significant points and suggestions of seriously high levels of traffic on the rural road network, A2 and M2.
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